Cybermania '94
| Cybermania '94 | |
|---|---|
Nielsen ratings ) | |
| Produced by | Peter Hayman |
| Directed by | Sue Brophey |
Cybermania '94: The Ultimate Gamer Awards was the first televised
video game awards show. Created by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), the two-hour show was broadcast live on TBS on November 5, 1994. Out of twelve award categories, Mortal Kombat won "Best Overall Game". Although the show was received negatively, it was seen by 1.1% of US households and the AIAS produced a less successful follow-up show in 1996. Geoff Keighley, who had been part of the production for Cybermania '94, went on to work on video game awards for other networks, eventually creating The Game Awards
in 2014.
Background
Andrew Zucker, an entertainment lawyer, envisioned an
Pantages Theatre on June 16.[4]
In creating the awards for Cybermania '94, the group solicited nominations from 2,500 multimedia companies across the United States. Because of an application fee, only 200 competing entries were received. Some companies, such as
Format
Cybermania '94 was produced by the AIAS and TBS, with Peter Hayman of ICE Integrated Communications & Entertainment as
jugglers, wrestling, and dancers performing to music by Herbie Hancock, as well as comedic clips about the gaming scene.[5][12][13]
Philips Interactive Media.[5][14] According to a representative, the company considered its products winning awards on national television "worthwhile" as a marketing strategy and morale boost for its employees.[5]
Awards
Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).
| Best Overall Game | Best Action/Adventure |
|---|---|
| Best CD Computer Game | Best Portable |
| Best Comedy | Best Art and Graphics in an Interactive Product |
|
|
| Best Music | Best Simulation/Strategy |
|
|
| Best Sports | Best Actor – Female |
|
|
| Best Actor – Male | Special awards |
|
|
Reception
The broadcast was seen by 1.1% of US households.Time Extension contacted several of the show's winners, of whom several reported that they had not known the show was televised.[10]
Legacy
Cybermania '94 was the first televised
Interactive Achievement Awards in 1998.[18]
A teenage
Spike TV (Spike Video Game Awards) until 2013. In 2014, he created The Game Awards, which he hosts.[9]
References
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lippman, John (June 17, 1993). "Oscar, Emmy, Tony: Move Over for Ajax". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ Harmon, Amy (June 22, 1993). "Interactive Interplay". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Berg, Jeremy (February 1995). "Buying Your Award – Cybermania '94: Respected Awards Show or Joke of the Year". Computer Player. Vol. 1, no. 9. HG Publications. pp. 13–14. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Cahners Publishing. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mendoza, N.F. (September 11, 1994). "Preview '94 : Baby, It's Special". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Martens, Todd (December 5, 2017). "Geoff Keighley's lifelong obsession to create a video game Oscars". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Time Extension. Archivedfrom the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Nashawaty, Chris (November 25, 1994). "Cybermania '94: The Ultimate Gamer Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Kunkel, Bill (January 1995). "The Kunkel Report: TBS & The Sonic Hedgehog". Electronic Games. Vol. 2, no. 11. Decker Publications. p. 144. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "'Cybermania' Cites Tops In Multimedia". Billboard. BPI Communications. November 19, 1994. p. 58. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Interactive Media Awards". Internet Underground. Vol. 1, no. 1. Sendai Media. December 1995. p. 20. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "The Second Annual AIAS Awards". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. 1996. Archived from the original on November 7, 1996.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (February 21, 2017). "DICE Awards turn 20: How gaming's Academy Awards have grown". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
External links
- Full list of winners at the Wayback Machine (archived November 7, 1996)